No. 75 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

Background
On March 4, 1942 No. 75 Squadron was formed in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at Garbutt Field in Townsville under the command of Squadron Leader Peter Jeffery equipped with P-40E Kittyhawks. During 1942, assigned to No. 9 Operational Group.

Wartime History
On March 7, 1942 lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-1 pilot P/O Lloyd Henry Holliday took off from Bankstown Airfield on a flight bound for Garbutt Field for assignment to the squadron but crashed near Kempsey, NSW.

On March 21, 1942 the first four Kittyhawks from the squadron land at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby as the first fighter aircraft to defend the area. Two hours later, two Kittyhawk pilot F/O Barry Cox and Kittyhawk pilot F/L John Piper intercept G4M1 Betty pilot Kawai on a solo reconnaissance mission and shot down causing it to crash into the sea one mile west of Basilisk Light to the south of Port Moresby.

On March 22, 1942 nine P-40E Kittyhawks led by S/L John F. Jackson took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a mission against Lae. Six Kittyhawks were to strafe Lae Airfield while the other three flew top cover. Over the target, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from 4th Kokutai (4th Air Group). Shot down is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-16 pilot F/O Bruce H. Anderson (MIA). Damaged is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-6 pilot F/O Wilbur L. Wackett whose engine seized and bailed out, swam ashore and with the help of locals walked via the Bulldog Track to Port Moresby.

On March 24, 1942 two Kittyhawks including P-40E A29-7 piloted by F/L Leslie "Les" D. Jackson intercept a Japanese air raid over Port Moresby. Jackson claims his first aerial victory (in fact, no Japanese aircraft were lost).

On March 27, 1942 in the morning P-40E Kittyhawk A29-19 piloted by P/O Ronald K. C. O'Connor and P-40E Kittyhawk A29-15 piloted by F/O Woods took off from 7 Mile Drome to patrol the Port Moresby area. Later, P-40E pilot Piper and P-40E pilot Bailey took off to intercept G4M1 Bettys east of Port Moresby and damage G4M1 Betty commanded by Fujii that crashed inland from Rigo. Over Mount Lawes, Woods and O'Connor attack escorting Zeros. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-19 piloted by P/O Ronald K. C. O'Connor (MIA).

On March 28, 1942 at 1:10p p P-40E Kittyhawk A29-5  pilot Sgt Ronald S. Bailey and P-40E Kittyhawk A29-12 piloted by F/O J. W. Piper took off from 7 Mile Drome to intercept a large formation of Japanese aircraft approaching. At 2:00pm F/O Piper flying at 10,000' spotted three Japanese bombers at about 18,000' escorted by two Zero approximately 4,500' higher. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-5 pilot Sgt Ronald S. Bailey (MIA) last seen being chased by a Zero approximately 20 to 30 miles north of Kekeni Rocks near Redscar Bay approximately 50 miles northwest of Port Moresby.

On April 1, 1942 in the morning, Kittyhawks took off from 7 Mile Drome to escort six A-24 Dive bombers from 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) on their first combat mission to dive bomb Japanese shipping off Lae. After take off, A-24 41-15798 pilot 2nd Lt. Henry G. Swartz experienced mechanical issues and aborts. The rest of the formation experiences bad weather and diverts to bomb Salamaua Airfield (Logui) and experience only light anti-aircraft fire.

On April 6, 1942 the squadron intercepts Japanese bombers bound for Port Moresby. Damaged is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-32 pilot F/O Edmund J. Johnson (survived) and the plane was recovered and later repaired.

On April 7, 1942 six Kittyhawks took off on a mission to escort U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) A-24 Dive Bombers from the 8th Bombardment Squadrons (8th BS) on a strike against Lae.

On April 10, 1942 at dawn, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-24 pilot S/L John F. Jackson took off from 7 Mile Drome on a solo reconnaissance mission over Lae and was shot down by A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group), the first aerial victory claimed by them in New Guinea. S/L John F. Jackson bailed out and with the help of locals would trek to friendly forces at Navos and was later rescued. Meanwhile, at Port Moresby P-40E Kittyhawk piloted by F/O Barry Cox took off on a mission to search for Jackson without result.

On April 11, 1942 at 6:30am P-40E Kittyhawk piloted by Squadron Leader Leslie "Les" D. Jackson on a solo search mission for his brother missing the previous day. Meanwhile, other P-40E Kittyhawks from the squadron took off on a fighter sweep over Lae. Over the north coast of New Guinea, intercepted by A6M2 Zero. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-38 pilot Sgt David S. Brown (POW, executed) force landed at Salamaua captured and later executed on May 26, 1942.

On April 13, 1942 eight Kittyhawks took off on a mission to esscort U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) A-24 Dive Bombers from 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) striking Lae. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-15 pilot F/O Ally Cecil Clifton "Bink" Davies (MIA).

On April 17, 1942 a pair of Kittyhawks took off from 7 Mile Drome piloted by S/L Bernard "Barney" B. Cresswell and Woods on a reconnaissance mission over Lae. Intercepted by A6M2 Zeros, lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-7 pilot S/L Bernard "Barney" B. Cresswell (KIA). Also lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-12 pilot F/O P. Scandratt who crashed on take off from 7 Mile Drome and was injured and the plane written off.

On April 18, 1942 seven Kittyhawks took off off from 7 Mile Drome led by P-40E Kittyhawk A29-30 pilot F/L Leslie "Les" D. Jackson on a mission to intercept enemy fighters reported to be approaching the Port Moresby area and spotted three A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group) and engaged. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-21 pilot Sgt Richard J. C. Granville (KIA).

On April 24, 1942 nine Kittyhawks took off from 7 Mile Drome to patrol north of Port Moresby. At noon, a Japanese air raid commenced and the Kittyhawks intercept seven G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M2 Zeros. P-40E Kittyhawk A29-9 pilot F/Lt Leslie "Les" D. Jackson and P-40E Kittyhawk A29-76 pilot Robert W. Crawford dove to assist B-26 "Hell's Angel" 40-1428 under attack by A6M2 Zeros and forced them to break off but both were damaged and ditched. Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-76 pilot Robert W. Crawford (survived) that ditched off the coast of New Guinea. Also lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-9 pilot F/Lt Leslie "Les" D. Jackson (survived) ditched on a coral reef near Bootless Bay. Also lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-43 pilot P/O Oswald J. Channon (KIA) crashed Porebada.

Meanwhile, A-24 Dive Bomber Tail 14 piloted by piloted 1st Lt. Virgil A. Schwab rescues Squadron Leader John F. Jackson from Navos near Wau and is flown to 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby and is reunited with the squadron.

On August 27, 1942 took off to intercept a Japanese air raid against No. 1 Strip (Gurney Field) near Milne Bay. During the air combat, piloted by S/L Leslie "Les" D. Jackson and wingman Sgt Roy Riddel surprised a pair of Zeros and shot down A6M3 Zero pilot Sadaô Yamashita (KIA) and A6M3 Zero pilot Ninomiya (KIA).

On April 28, 1942 the squadron took off from 7 Mile Drome to intercept A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group). Shot down is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-8 pilot S/L John F. Jackson (KIA) and P-40E "Sweet Adeline" A29-47 pilot F/Lt Barry Mortimer Cox (MIA).

On May 2, 1942 three Kittyhawks took off from 12 Mile Drome with P-39 Airacobras from 8th Fighter Group (8th FG) to intercept A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group). Lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-48 pilot Sgt Donald W. Munro (KIA).

On July 12, 1942 lost is P-40E Kittyhawk A29-13 pilot Philip Francis Grant Harbottle (KIA) on a flight and crashed into Lark Hill roughly 4 miles east of Marburg, Queensland.

On January 27, 1944 at 8:20am twelve Kittyhawks led by S/L J. H. Kinninmont took off from Nadzab Airfield on a strafing mission against Jomba Island (Yomba) to the east of Madang. During one of the strafing runs at 9:20am P-40N "Ishkabibble" A29-530 pilot P/O Stanley B. Hunt (KIA) collided with P-40N A29-523 piloted by F/Sgt James M. Stirling (MIA).

P-40E A29-100  pilot Shelley MIA August 11, 1942
P-40E A29-108  pilot Munro crashed August 27, 1942
P-40E A29-109  pilot Cowe crashed August 28, 1942
P-40E A29-110  pilot Whetters August 26, 1942
P-40E A29-123  pilot Sheldon crashed August 11, 1942
P-40E "Poison P" A29-125  pilot Sherwin crashed March 24, 1942
P-40E A29-136 pilot Piper crashed February 6, 1943
P-40E A29-434  pilot Mogg crashed May 13, 1944
P-40E A29-448  transfered to 78 Squadron May 1, 1944
P-40E A29-568  pilot Guster crashed August 23, 1944
P-40N A29-1019  pilot Johnstone damaged landing June 28, 1945

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Squadron Leader Peter Jeffrey (March 4, 1942–March 18, 1942)
Squadron Leader John F. Jackson (March 19, 1942–April 28, 1942) †
Squadron Leader Leslie "Les" D. Jackson (April 29, 1942–January 21, 1943)
Squadron Leader Wilfred S. Arthur (22 January 1943– June 13, 1943)

References
NAA Operations record book (forms A50 & A51), 75 Squadron. [Unit history sheets] (NAA: A9186, 95)
AWM - No. 75 Squadron
War Diary 1942 (1984) by George Johnston page 40 (March 21, 1942), 43 (March 24, 1942)
"[March 21, 1942] 21 Saturday R.A.A.F. fighters arrive...."
"Fighter Squadron Doctor: 75 Squadron RAAF New Guinea 1942" (1989) by William Deane Butcher
Papua New Guinea Winged Ghosts of the Pacific (1995) by Andrew Wight discovery of P-40E Kittyhawk interview with William A. Whetters
Seek and Strike 75 Squadron RAAF 1942-2002 (2002) by David J Wilson
The Whole Nine Yards The Story Of An ANZAC P-40 (2002) by John King
44 Days 75 Squadron and the fight for Australia (2016) by Michael Veitch
Harvest of the Grim Reapers The Illustrated History of the 3rd and 27th Bomb Groups During World War II Volume I: Prewar to December 1942 (2021) pages 124-129 (meeting Jackson brothers at 7 Mile), 128 (April 24, 1942 ditching), 134 (April 9, 1942 solo recon) 134-135 (solo recon April 10, 1942 shoot down), 137 (search for Jackson), 139-141 (John Jackson return April 22-23, 1942), 143 (killed April 28, 1942 buried by brother), 183 (Les Jackson becomes C.O. 75 Squadron), 190 (Doc Deane-Butcher), 193 (May 9, 1942 last flyable Kittyhawk), 293 (Les leds Kittyhawks to Milne Bay), 342 (August 27, 1942), 419 (7 Mile renamed Jackson Drome), 498 (acknowledgments Jackson relatives), 513 (index John F. Jackson), 513 (index Les D. Jackson), 522 (index RAAF)